Catch up on a great day of free events for food and drink companies

Several businesses came together to receive specialist exporting advice and speak to local MPs about the issues that affect them.

The Exporting is GREAT advice day held in Saunderton on 14 October was a day dedicated to supporting businesses with their exporting efforts, with a particular focus on food and drink companies. The food and drink sector is certainly a vital one in the UK, employing 1 in every 8 people in employment and contributing billions of pounds a year to the UK economy.

On the day, experts from the Department for International Trade (DIT) and Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) provided essential information and practical tools to help businesses export, including giving information on protecting IP overseas and managing overseas partners. A representative from Santander was also on hand to showcase the Santander Trade Portal - a free online resource to help exporters identify the best export opportunities and find the information and key contacts needed to achieve success.

MPs’ Briefing with food and drink firms

Prior to this, MPs Steve Baker, Cheryl Gillan and David Lidington sat down with a group of food and drink companies to discuss issues important to them and their sector as a whole, including trade rules and ‘Brexit’.

Issues raised by businesses include:

  • Whether there would be ‘brand damage’ to the UK as a result of the EU referendum
  • What will happen to small businesses upon leaving the EU? Large companies get the headlines, but what about the often unseen micro and small firms that keep the country running?
  • Buckinghamshire being perceived as a wealthy county is an issue with regards to getting government investment
  • Tough World Trade Organisation rules that can often hinder progress
  • Designation of origin rules
  • Rural subsidies, not just farming subsidies, needing strengthening
  • The need to upgrade workforce skills, something vocational training can help with
  • Changing consumer habits and eating habits affecting food and drink businesses – price is still king for most people 

A few helpful measures were highlighted that could support business’s aims, including:

  • Apprenticeships being increasingly employer-led in the future, thanks in part to the apprenticeship levy
  • Food and farming apprenticeships and group schemes whereby farms share an apprentice
  • The Food and Drink Innovation Network

International Action Plan for Food and Drink announced

Just a few days after this event, the Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom launched the International Action Plan for Food and Drink. The plan, which the government hopes will bring a £2.9billion boost to the UK economy, will see the government and industry work together in order to boost exports over the next five years. The plan identifies nine markets across the world with growth potential and outlines ways to tap into those markets, including targeting:

  • An extra £185million in exports to Japan through demand for quintessential British products like tea, biscuits, jam and beef
  • An additional £293 million of exports to Australia and New Zealand, where there’s a growing thirst for British beer and cider
  • A £215 million export boost in Mexico and Latin America through growing demand for a wide range of British products including whisky and gin

Heathrow expansion brings opportunities for Buckinghamshire

The Government has announced it will progress with plans to expand the capacity at Heathrow Airport. The business opportunities arising from the expansion of Heathrow Airport for the local economy are substantial and include access to new markets, supporting reduced flight costs and providing employment and skills opportunities for the local communities.

Alex Pratt, Chairman of Buckinghamshire Business First, welcomed the announcement: “The development of air capacity around London is of paramount importance to the economy of the UK and in particular to businesses in areas such as Buckinghamshire that benefit through close access to the main international hubs.

“As one of the most productive economies in the country we want to continue to provide the conditions for businesses to thrive at the beating heart of the national economy.”

For more advice on accessing new markets, see the business support section of our website.

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